What do the jackals know that we dont?

[Paul Alexander]

Here's one plus with the town clearing out, the wildlife moves back in. Here is a female Jackal with her 2 young uns. Took the photo from my office window this morning in broad daylight, I think they were trying to break into my car (a la Madagascar Penguins). My daughter, Kayla said she saw one at school during break and I also saw another one running across Goerge Square after work yesterday... lovely sight but is it a sign of things to come?

[Bertie Horak]

That's wonderful!  I remember them coming into our yard in 11th avenue to steal our dogs' food.  Miss their cries at night.

[SandyB]

Methinks more a case of them getting more and more used to  human presence ,, something that ocurs over generations ..  the younger ones  observed many years ago the cautious  reaction of their parents ,, beacame abit more courageous , their young in turn  observe the less cautious  more courageous  action of their parents .. and so it goes on ....   take the gemsbuck ...  when I returned after  28 years  in november last year it was  fascinating seeing them casually moving around town in broad daylight ... back then they would  only  generally venture in at  night to  graze on all our  luverly green lawns in the town .. now its broad daylight ... 

[Bertie Horak]

You're right Sandy, I found it strange when I read your first post about the Gemmies roaming the streets in broad daylight.  I also only remember seeing them in town at night.

[Michele Alexander (Voden)]

The jackals are living in the yard next to the Power Station. Last year Mike saw the mother on one of his walks with Shadow, then when my mom and I took Shadow for a walk we saw her as well - she seemed a bit crazy as she would sit there wagging her tail but making this horrible noise. We saw her a couple of evenings in the same spot - the grass in front of the power station and then the next evening we saw two jackal pups playing behind the fence - really cute. We saw them a couple of times then didn't see them for a while then when driving home from the POH (reunion week-end) the girls and I saw the pups playing on the grass - this was at about 21h00. That was the last time I saw them until yesterday morning at the school. The two pups left the school at 07h00, made their way down past the NG church, I dropped off the girls and drove around - only to see a joyful reunion of the pups with their mom on St George's square.

[Clive Symes]

There was a mother & two pups living under the Archive caravan out side the Chief Draughtsmans office just before I left

[Bertie Horak]

About wild animals - I asked my old toppie to start to think about Oranjemund stories and history to post on the site.  I told him about the recent posts and the animals so close to people.

He told me just after he moved to Oranjemund in the early 60's, a worker was almost completely scalped when he was attacked by a leopard close to North Hostel.  Anybody know if there's still any leopards around?  cuqui

[SandyB]

I remember the leopard incident ..  .. it put  the fear of all hell in me ...  I practiced  scaling lamp posts  so that if the dreaded leopard  ever chased me  I could  scale to safety ...   must say my pole climbing skills   became very good ... 

[Dalene Steenkamp (Coetzee)]

Don't want to scare you some more, but all the skills in the world will not save your butt from being chewed up by a hungry leopard!  I think those catties top you on the scale of skills a little....



I can imagine you on top of a pole shouting:  Voertsek, bliksem!   

[SandyB]

At least  my  at the time sweaty and  very sticky   if chased by leopard  palms  would get me to the top of the lamp post record time  ..  remember my story of the drunken night  pole climbing .. I   was  good at it ..   never forgot that skill ...      and the leopard got claws ..  no good for climbing  steel poles ..  and yes I could spend the night shouting  voertseck blicksem !!!

[Bertie Horak]

Thanx Sandy for confirming it, now we know Dad wasn't dreaming! 

[Diana Rudd (Boehme)]

Me to,me to I remember as well

[Dalene Steenkamp (Coetzee)]

I don't, but I sure would like someone to take a pic of Sandy and his spotted friend competing for top pozzie on the pole when it should occur .....  ha     

[SandyB]

Give the  leopard  magnetic  shoes only way he gonna  climb a lampost  ...

[John Creedy]

Don't want to be left out...I have an idea that security went and shot said leopard.  A big Shoo away would have worked?  Anyone remember the story of Roger Burchell in a helicopter and coming home with leopard scratch marks on the paint work of the Jet Ranger?  Don't know if its true and probably was filled to the brim with bandewyn when he related the story.  Anyne in contact with him??

John